An emblematic figure of the Strasbourg Racing Club and Alsatian football, Gilbert Gress works alongside the humanitarian association Kiwanis to help children. He went to the Strasbourg Christmas market to raise funds on Wednesday December 18.
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Present for more than 20 years at the Strasbourg Christmas market, the Kiwanis association benefits from brand reinforcement this year. The former footballer and coach of the Racing Club de Strasbourg, Gilbert Gress, 83, comes to pose to attract donations for children.
On the afternoon of Wednesday December 18, at the foot of the cathedral, Place du Château, he was the center of all attention. The public, especially people of his generation of course, are delighted to see the man who led the Racing Club de Strasbourg to its (only) title of Champion of France in 1979.
One of his admirers came specially from Gundershoffen, near Haguenau, to see him. “We’ve never seen a coach like him again in Alsace. Besides, we played against him in CF4.”
5 euros per souvenir photo with Gilbert Gress, donated to Kiwanis for children.
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© Anne-Laure Mary / France Télévisions
Another big smile for a man who followed the entire career of Gilbert Gress. “It’s a pleasure to meet you” he said to him, showing him a black and white photo published in the book “The legends of the Racing Club de Strasbourg. He will also leave with a photo autographed by the former footballer and coach of Racing. Five euros per photo, donated directly to the Kiwanis association, for children.
Big smile to pose next to Gilbert Gress, former footballer and coach of the Racing Club de Strasbourg.
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© Anne-Laure Mary / France Télévisions
Gilbert Gress is the “godfather” of the Kiwanis association in Alsace and is already very invested in other associations and foundations for children. “I’m part of the Lions club and I help out with Kiwanis, it seems to be going well. And then at one point, in Switzerland, I was a sponsor of around ten associations and foundations. I have no problem being a sponsor of an association like this.”
Photos with Gilbert gress to raise funds for Kiwanis.
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© Lison Zimmer / France televisions
He notes that many Swiss people recognize him every time he comes to Strasbourg, as do Racing supporters of course. “No one has forgotten what happened in 1979, you realize 45-46 years later!”
Arnaud Delarchand, president of the Kiwanis association in Alsace, is also delighted with this presence and this commitment. “Gilbert Gress gives us visibility, it’s an honor and a booster for our sales. The objective is to raise funds to provide money to children experiencing physical, mental and social difficulties. Thanks to all our volunteers, we raise funds in different places and this year, we are lucky that Gilbert Gress agrees to support us. We are delighted and we know that we are making people happy.”
“Sharing our talents to help children” is the motto of the Kiwanis association which will celebrate its 110th anniversary in 2025. Founded in Detroit in January 1915 in the Michigan, “Kiwanis” is a phonetic adaptation of “NUNC KEE WANIS”, an Indian word from the Ochipew tribe.
Kiwanis participates, for example, in “Overcoming Cystic Fibrosis”, helps children who are victims of abuse and bullying at school, supports research into rare diseases, provides help to babies and families of premature babies, and mobilizes against ” junk food”… Its actions are numerous and varied and take place throughout the year.
